BANNERS AND BAPTISMS #13

BANNERS AND BAPTISMS  #13

Hi everyone, we have been pretty busy around here. We finally picked up the the new A-frame signs telling  about the institute and the mission offices. The signs  have an arrow pointing  to the building telling what we do in this building--such as : teaching about Jesus Christ, inviting them to find out  the answers  to life's most important questions, inviting people to come into the building for a tour, and  to use a a class room, with wi-fi, for a study area.  Bro Patrick really liked the looks of the signs in front of the building, so he gave the go ahead to make the tall banners for the pillars  to tell the students and the people walking by what building  this  is, who we are, what is going on  and what we are doing here.  This will be a great addition to draw people into the building for missionary work.

I am fixing dinner now for a bout 40 people.  It is hard to know how much to fix when I have only cooked for 2 people for so many years. The students are very thankful and appreciative for my efforts and I have enjoyed them a lot.  This week's meal was sloppy Joes, carrots, and cupcakes with blue sprinkles and red sprinkles in the form of a flag. I  think  that it was fun just to recognize the patriotism of the students.

 I have been to Costco now about 6 times. I spend a lot of time purchasing food there.  The neat thing about it I have only been lost about 2 times. It is about 15 miles from the Institute.

Elder Judd:  My Mission Prep class started with only one student, Melissa Compton. We had a great discussion as I started class on time.  45 minutes later 5 more students came in late, having been caught in traffic on the bridge over Tampa Bay from St. Petersburg.  That is a little hard to keep continuity in a lesson. But you do the best you can and call it good.  It was good class anyway.  Fernando, our awesome new convert, complimented me on my Stars and Strips flag tie and asked if he could borrow it for Sunday. I gave it to him after dinner.  He was really touched but it was fun to give him something back when he has given us so much thru his love and excitement and growth in the Gospel. It is a true miracle to see how the Holy Ghost increases the spiritual  growth in a person who is sincere when he is baptism and confirmed. In one week Fernando has made great strides in his understanding the Gospel.  In class I asked him to define faith when he had not been there when I defined it earlier. Here is a convert of a little over a week and he gave a perfect definition like it came out of the LDS Bible Dictionary. Then he testified how faith had worked in his conversion and baptism. Everybody in class sat there stunned by the Spirit that accompanied his testimony.

Most of Friday, July 4, Sister Judd and I stayed in the apartment while I worked on my lesson for Monday and sister Judd worked on making some brownies for the dinner we were invited to.  About 3pm we  left for Indian Shores where Alex Patrick and family lives. We were invited, well, I invited us to join their celebration of the 4^th with burgers,salads and chips etc. and an evening on the Gulf beach with fireworks.The beach was only a half a block away from their home so we walked with our chairs, towels, and fireworks. We were able to watch the fireworks to the right and the left of us  and  then watch God’s lightning and thunder show out in the gulf at the same time.  It was spectacular, and of course, the Lord’s part was the best.  Man is puny in his works compared to God’s. we had a great dinner, good hosts and a great time we won’t forget.

Today, Sunday has been a wonderful day. It started out with the baptism of three converts, Jerry Thompson- in his late fifties I guess, Jamie Leggett- a YSA who is just a great young man, and Laneika Murdock-a YSA from Jamaica. Jerry was so happy that he was being baptized that he told me he was more excited about this event than his marriage that took place last week. His spirit is just amazing and I could feel his testimony as he and I talked briefly before the baptism. I met Jamie for the first time when the Elders asked me to come into their lesson with him and explain Jacob 5.  We had a great time talking about its meaning for the House of Israel. Jamie told me today that that was an amazing experience for him. He truly does have  a testimony and it is wonderful to see his growth in the Gospel in just two weeks time. Jamie asked that I confirm him, which I did. It was a spiritual experience as the Spirit spoke thru me in his blessing. Jamie’s whole family came and stayed for Sacrament meeting. They are a beautiful family and even his grand parents came to see him baptized.  We hope to see more of them. Lanieka is a beautiful, tall Jamaican girl going to school at the University of South Florida, which is just across the street from our Institute building. She lives in the apartments next to the Institute.  She started with the missionaries just two weeks ago. She has a testimony of the Book of Mormon and brought two of her close friends to the baptism. Following the baptismal service our Sacrament and testimony meeting began.  It was a great meeting and the Spirit was present with every testimony borne. Fernando bore his testimony and was bursting with love for the Gospel and his joy for the Savior.  He looked great up at the pulpit with that Stars and Strips tie on. After the meeting, the YSA had their traditional Fast-Feast meal, a pot luck of sorts where many bring dishes on a theme, this time it was Italian, and we feast after the Fast Meeting. It was a great day.

LENIEKA FROM JAMICA

We are having a lot of lightening and thunder storms right now. They seem to be so close that it is nerve racking.  The rain that usually accompanies the lightening and thunder is really heavy.  Elder Judd calls it a really frog strangler!!

FROG STRANGLER